The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-09-10

man we met is one of those genial, un- assuming, high bred Kentucky gentle men, whose company makes one feel in better humor with all mankind. This is Mir. Edward Jackson Force, the head of the firm. We tell him we desire to look through the factory, and he turns us over to another agree able gentleman, his brother, Mir. Geo. A. Force. who Is manager of the fac tory proper. Under his courteous guidance let us now go along the route ho2shead of tobacco travels in the process of plug manufacture. Entering the big elevator. we go straight to the top floor. Here are found sonir dozens of tiugshesSis fresh from "the breaks" all pulled to pieces that the leaf may be picked over and assorted. Gaze for moment on thing of beauty, if not joy forever a great white floor. immediately clean, covered with piles and piles of rich. "coloury" leaf, the cream of crop grown on virgin Bluegrass soil the very best tobacco ill all the world Breathe the sweet fragrance
 floating forth from this gold tinted silken weed of luxury, lying here out spread in all its native purity and beauty; and, for change of scene, turn your eye wonder, out through the fac tory window, and see the clear Ohio to-day as limpid as mountain brook-rippling down the talls-the finest river scene along the Missis- sippi's larger tributaries.
 But back to our tobacco. After being picked and sorted, the leaf is thown upon an endless frame that goes revolving on and through q long steam chest-the latest and most effective appliance vet invented for moistening the leaf-from whence it emcrgcs soft and pliant for the stemmers, who, each in her little stall, dcftly with draws the leafs coarse rib. laying out fine ibred, fluffy, yellow heaps, soon to be immersed in the great sweeten- ing vat, which is full Of a liquid that looks and smells good enough to drink. Passing through great rub Der wringers, the sweetened leaves or, rather, half-leaves, for the original leaf was almost split in two when the stem was drawn-are laid out on frames, which are fitted into tall. broad racks, that run on wheels. and rushed straight into the drying house, whence if comes forth dryer than any finder. The drying room of the Force Tobacco Company is the finest oi its kind in all America. It re- minded me of the hot rooms of Turkish bath, only there was :. mon- ster fan revolving all the time and so arranged as to moderate the heat to meet the requirements of the different stages in the process of moisture elim- nation. The racks are attached to an endless chain that moves with tor toise- -gaitcd regularity through the current of hot-air The leaf. now, sweet and dry, is moistcncd again and gently steamed into "ordcr" for the machines that make il into Jumps, which are wrapped by dcft fingers, ready for the molds and "finishcrs." which press it into various styles and shapes. To give the details of the intricate handling of the tobacco leaf from the hogshead to the finished plug might prove unintercsting to the gen eralitv of readers, SO I'll cut it short by saving that in this admirably arranged factory, where the machinery is the very finest and where the oper- ativcs are the most expert, perhaps, in the world, the journey of the leaf transpires with clock-like precision, unimpeded either by accident, wind or weather. It takes about three days